The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-05-28

some Of them and l will note them down, and l think we can agree on this matter very readily"
 Well, there was a silk dress for one thing" replied the man.
 Yes-how much was it worth 2"
 Seventy-tive dollars"
 "Ah, um, Mr. Wilcox-expensive dress"
 It was" interposed Mrs. Wilcox, " it was my wedding dress, and cost St25. wouldn't have taken $500 for it."
 "Er, yes, very likely, anything else?"
 There was a sewing machine worth SG0."
 "Sixty dollars, eh Now you see sewing machines have more fixed value than silk dresses. can get the best sewing machine made for S35."
 "Not one like ours It cost S75 and was worth every cent of S60-I couldn't think of taking any less," said Mir. Wilcox.
 Pass it for now-givc me somc- thing else"
 Parlor organ injured fully S10O worth"
 "I can get pretty good one new for that amount"
 Not like ours, mister" said one of the large girls, " it cost S250."
 Cant allow you so much, Pm afraid What else ?"
 Il lost suit of clothes" said Mr. Wilcox, "worth S70."
 "Now look here, my friend, don't believe your clothes cost that much, 1" returned the judge, beginning to get warmed up.
 I tell you they did; they cost $50 and Pm not going to let any insurance company beat me out of it, either. You just do this thing fair or get out and I'll sue your old company"
 That's right, Henry" said his wife :; we're not goin to let any travelling insurance agent beat us out of what belongs to us"
 The children appeared to look at it in the same way, and the judge didn't see much encouragement, when plan suddenly struck him:
 Brother Wilcox" he said sol emnly, "we must ask for help in this matter"
 "What!" said Brother Wilcox. looking at him.
 Il say we must make this business a matter of prayer. You and your excellent wife here belong to the Methodist church, believe?"
 "Yes, sir-do you?"
 "I have been a member of that church for thirty years. Let us pray and see if our way does not become more clear ill this matter"
 So they all knelt down and the Judge led in prayer. He could not remember having done such thing since on certain occasion when he tumbled down an old well while he was boy, but he speedily got the hang of it. He struck it on the heathen in foreign lands, made a touching appeal for the sick and needy, remembered distant friends, touched on the church and church ex- tension in the west, and wound up with an appeal for the little band who had gathered together to adjust cer- tain insurance loss. The Judge grew very impressive and asked for strength for himself and his good brother and his devout sister and also their chil- dren, that they might adjust the loss even as it should be adjusted: that they might all know the true price of silk dresses and sewing machines and store clothes. He ended in particu- larly touching manner, his voice trembling, and when they arose tears stood in the eyes of the entire party. Wilcox graspcd the Judges hand, pressed it fervently and said:
 Brother England, let us begin again."
 Yes, let us begin again Brother. returned the Judge.
 "Now the dress first. Maria was it the calico or the gingham ?. asked Wilcox of his wife. nz1-s1Fg- ss
 "It-it-it was the calico. Henry D
 Cone calico dress, Brother Eng land."
 Worth about forty cents, Brother Wilcox ?"
 Not more than that, was it Maria ?''
 "Not more than thirty, Henry. I had worn it all summer.''
 Dress, thirty cents; go on Brother Wilcox"
 The sewing machine got the leaf broken off-we had it fixed for half dollar"
 Sewing machine fifty cents; go on, brother"
 The organ was scorched on one end-wh hat did the varnish cost, Susie ?" Fifty cents, pa.'